How good are you at detecting lies? Lying is pervasive in everyday life, and researchers are learning fascinating things about how and why humans practice deception, and why lies can be hard to detect. Producer Judith Kampfner takes us into the lab to learn about the scientific detection of lying, the psychological reasons why people lie, and why some people are afraid to lie.

Program Credits

The Truth Behind the Liar was produced by Judith
Kaempfner.
It was funded in part by the National Science Foundation.

Resources

Links:The Psychology of DeceptionBrowse books on the relationship of deception and magic, parapsychology and psychics by British psychologist Richard Wiseman.

Books:The Truth about Lying: How to Spot a Lie and Protect Yourself from Deceptionby: By Stan B. WaltersExplore what lies behind a lie and how deception is expressed through verbal and nonverbal communication.

Deception and Self-Deception: Investigating Psychicsby: By Richard WisemanA look at how principles of deception can be used to fake psychic ability.